"Stand aside, missy," this individual said, and his voice was rough,
his gesture very decided. It was, in fact, his "arresting" manner. He
was about to do his duty.
"Just wait a moment," said Judy calmly; and she placed herself
directly in his path, her legs apart, her arms akimbo on her hips.
"You say the man you want to find is old and ragged and looks like a
tramp?"
"That's it," replied the Policeman, greatly astonished, and pausing a
moment in spite of himself. "You'll see him in a moment. Jest help me
to lift a corner o' this 'ere tarpaulin, and I'll show him to you." He
pushed her deliberately aside.
"All right," said Judy, her eyes shining brilliantly, her gestures
touched with a confidence that surprised everybody into silence, "but
first I want to tell you that the person underneath this old sheet
thing is not a tramp at all--"
"You don't say so," interrupted the other, half impudently, half
sarcastically. "What is he then, I'd like to know?"
The girl drew herself up and looked the great blue figure straight in
the eyes.
"He's my brother," she said, in a clear strong voice, "and he's not a
thief.
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